Lake County residents whose property was damaged from the historic floods of July 2017 may be eligible for a Natural Disaster Income Tax Credit thanks to a new law from Senator Melinda Bush.

This income tax credit is for qualified real property that was damaged as a result of the flood event in July 2017. No other events can be considered for this. This credit can be obtained for up to $750, based upon information provided.

The property must be the principal residence of the owner

If the property is leased, the owner is not eligible for this credit

Certain business properties can apply for this credit (details listed on the certificate)

Only losses related to qualified real property can be considered for this tax credit

Properties that received or will receive a Natural Disaster Homestead Exemption for property taxes do not qualify for this credit

Items a property owner will need to provide to a Township Assessor or the County Assessor as a part of the certification process:

Property owners will need to provide their Township Assessor or the County Assessor with proof of loss in the form of receipts, estimates, invoices, insurance claims or other validation to claim the income tax credit

Please bring completed forms and proof of loss documentation to your local Township Assessor's Office or the Chief County Assessment Office (CCAO). The information will then be evaluated to:

Determine whether the property owner has already received a benefit with a Natural Disaster Homestead Exemption

Determine the amount of the credit to be received

The township assessor or CCAO will review the information submitted, and complete and provide you with a copy of the certificate if you qualify for the Natural Disaster Income Tax Credit.

Steps to take after being certified by Township Assessor or County Assessment Office:

SPRINGFIELD – As the 2018 tax filing season officially begins, Senator Melinda Bush (D-Grayslake) is reminding Lake County residents whose property was damaged during last year’s floods that they may qualify for her $750 Natural Disaster Income Tax Credit.

“With tax season officially underway, it’s important that local residents know about the Natural Disaster Income Tax Credit and are able to take full advantage of it,” Bush said. “Last year’s flooding cost Lake County residents thousands of dollars in damage. Representative Yingling and I created the Natural Disaster Income Tax Credit to provide relief to those who were financially impacted by the floods.”

To claim the Natural Disaster Income Tax Credit, individuals must submit a completed IRS Form 4684 and provide proof of loss documentation to their local township assessor’s office.

The required forms can be found here. Individuals with questions about the tax credit should call her district office at 847-548-5631.

SPRINGFIELD – The Senate Task Force on Sexual Discrimination and Harassment Awareness and Prevention held its first meeting yesterday in Chicago. The task force was created by Senator Melinda Bush (D-Grayslake), who also serves as a co-chair.

“For far too long, victims of sexual harassment and discrimination have been ignored and intimidated by a system that has allowed perpetrators to go unchecked,” Bush said. “This task force intends to rectify that.”

The task force was created in response to the recent wave of harassment allegations in Illinois and throughout the country. The group will conduct a comprehensive review of the legal and social consequences of sexual harassment and discrimination, and will make recommendations on how to combat them in Illinois.

“There is a reckoning taking place across the country,” Bush said. “It has become clear that the current process has failed victims. We need to make changes to provide a timely and fair process that ensures claims are investigated and justice is served.”

The first meeting included presentations from experts on the current protocol for reporting sexual discrimination and harassment and the options victims have for seeking justice. The task force will meet monthly during the next year and will submit recommendations to the General Assembly by December 31, 2018.

SPRINGFIELD – A measure from Senator Melinda Bush (D-Grayslake) to reduce opioid abuse and “doctor shopping” was signed into law today.

Senate Bill 772 requires prescribers of controlled substances to check the Prescription Monitoring Program database to see if a patient has been prescribed a controlled substance by another doctor prior to writing an initial prescription. This would make it harder for individuals to obtain prescriptions from multiple doctors, a practice known as doctor shopping.

“As elected officials, we should be doing everything we can to prevent addiction and reduce opioid abuse,” Bush said. “Requiring doctors to check a patient’s prescription history before prescribing opioids is a simple way to ensure doctors aren’t overprescribing and patients aren’t doctor shopping.”

In 2015, Bush sponsored the legislation that required pharmacies to file daily reports of all controlled substances they dispense. Until now, however, prescribers of controlled substances were not required to check the Prescription Monitoring Program database before writing prescriptions. Studies show that as few as 14 percent of physicians always check the database before prescribing controlled substances.

“This common-sense change has the potential to prevent overdoses, save thousands of lives and advance the shared goal of ending the opioid epidemic,” Bush said. “I look forward to continuing to pass measures that will prevent addiction and help those currently affected by the opioid crisis.”